Joaquina Kalukango
Broadway Deep Dive: Telly Leung Unpacks His Career Onstage and the Roles That Led to MASQUERADE (Feb 22, 2026)
Wellesley Repertory Theatre Unveils Cast And Creative Team For In-Process Presentation Of LIFTED (Feb 18, 2026)
Rachel Dratch, Stephanie Hsu, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Juliette Lewis & More Join THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW- Full Cast Announced (Jan 29, 2026)
BIO
Joaquina Kalukango is an American actor and singer best known for playing Nelly O'Brien in the Broadway musical Paradise Square, for which she won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Play in 2020 for portraying Kaneisha in Slave Play. In addition to her theatre work, Kalukango has appeared in One Night in Miami and When They See Us.
Photos
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STAGE CREDITS
Movies
[ 2018 ] Michelle
[ 2020 ] Betty X
[ 2025 ] Gloria Gaynor
Awards and Nominations
Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
winner
Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
winner
Joaquina Kalukango, Slave Play
Joaquina Kalukango, Slave Play
winner
Joaquina KalukangoThe Mountaintop
Joaquina Kalukango
Joaquina Kalukango, The Hurt Village
winner
Joaquina Kalukango, Hurt Village
Videos
Video: Watch Joaquina Kalukango Sing Joni Mitchell, PARADISE SQUARE at 54 Below
by Michael Major - 2025-05-07 16:39:32
Video: Watch 'The Whole World's Waitin' to Sing Your Song' from JELLY'S LAST JAM
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-02-28 14:25:38
Video: Watch Cynthia Erivo Sing With Joaquina Kalukango & Ben Platt in PBS Concert Preview
by Michael Major - 2023-12-29 11:47:02
VIDEO: Watch Joaquina Kalukango, Matt Doyle & More Perform on PBS' New Year's Eve Special
by Michael Major - 2023-01-03 10:08:25
Video: Watch Joaquina Kalukango Perform 'Last Midnight' in INTO THE WOODS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-12-29 12:34:05
Video: Joaquina Kalukango Gets Ready to Step Into INTO THE WOODS
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-12-12 15:32:46
Listen: Hear Joaquina Kalukango's 'Let It Burn' From the PARADISE SQUARE Cast Recording
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-06-23 14:14:49
VIDEO: Joaquina Kalukango Discusses Her PARADISE SQUARE Tony Awards Performance on TODAY
by Michael Major - 2022-06-22 11:23:36
VIDEO: Watch Joaquina Kalukango Make First Entrance Since Tony Win
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-06-15 16:22:26
VIDEO: Joaquina Kalukango Opens Up About Embracing the Power of PARADISE SQUARE
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-06-07 18:30:20
Meet the 2022 Tony Nominees: PARADISE SQUARE's Joaquina Kalukango
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-06-01 18:00:20
VIDEO: Joaquina Kalukango Discusses Being Grateful to Be Back on Stage in PARADISE SQUARE Post-Show Speech
by Stephi Wild - 2022-04-20 09:53:25
VIDEO: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Gives Pre-Show Speech at PARADISE SQUARE
by Stephi Wild - 2022-04-04 09:04:22
VIDEO: Watch the Opening Night Curtain Call at PARADISE SQUARE
by Marissa Tomeo - 2022-04-03 22:07:29
VIDEO: First Look at the Pre-Broadway Run of PARADISE SQUARE in Chicago
by Alan Henry - 2021-12-02 11:05:01
News
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Feb 22, 2026
Current star of Masquerade Telly Leung discusses with Jennifer Ashley Tepper playing the Phantom in the immersive production, the full circle from Rent fan to Rent actor, Gavin Creel’s leadership during a production that never was, and much more.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 18, 2026
Wellesley Repertory Theatre will present 'LIFTED,' the seventh installment in the Ufot Family Cycle, with performances scheduled across three venues in March.
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 29, 2026
It's time to meet Broadway's new creatures of the night! Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the complete cast for Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, with direction by Tony Award winner Sam Pinkleton.
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 15, 2026
Illinois Conservatory for the Arts will present its annual A Night of Broadway benefit gala on February 21, 2026, in Naperville. The concert will feature performances by Eden Espinosa, Joaquina Kalukango, Kecia Lewis, Michael Longoria, Samantha Pauly, and Christine Sherrill.
by Stephi Wild - Nov 7, 2025
AT THIS PERFORMANCE… will return to The Green Room 42 featuring standbys, understudies and alternates from Ragtime; Wicked; Hadestown; Aladdin; Beetlejuice; Masquerade; and The Seat Of Our Pants.
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Nov 2, 2025
Only two new musicals are opening on Broadway in the first half of the 2025-2026 season: The Queen of Versailles and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). There has been much discourse on the topic of whether rising capitalization costs and the rareness of full recoupment is impacting the number of new musicals being produced on Broadway.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 25, 2025
New York Theatre Workshop's world premiere musical Saturday Church has extended for a second and final time. Learn more about Saturday Church and see how to purchase tickets!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 17, 2025
BroadwayWorld is here with your fall 2025 guide to all the shows lighting up New York’s stages. From world premieres to long-awaited revivals, this season’s Off-Broadway lineup delivers something for every kind of theater fan!
by Nicole Rosky - Sep 14, 2025
The congregation is gathering at New York Theatre Workshop! The new musical Saturday Church, is officially in previews and set to open on September 15. Before it was a musical, Saturday Church was an acclaimed 2017 Spring Pictures film written and directed by Damon Cardasis. He just checked in with BroadwayWorld to tell us all about how the project came to be and why audiences need to run (not walk) to check it out for themselves.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 9, 2025
The world premiere musical Saturday Church has extended its run for an additional week at New York Theatre Workshop. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 15, 2025
New York Theatre Workshop revealed details for their For The Culture Series for the world premiere of the new musical Saturday Church. Learn more and see how to attend!
by Michael Major - Aug 11, 2025
Aaron J. Albano, Ali Ewoldt, Ann Harada, Anthony Rapp, Conrad Ricamora, the Broadway Body Positivity Project, Joaquina Kalukango, Jon Jon Briones, Telly Leung, and many more have signed Wong's open letter on the subject.
by Emmy Rice - Aug 2, 2025
AT THIS PERFORMANCE… returns to The Green Room 42 featuring Standbys, Understudies and Alternates from MAYBE HAPPY ENDING; PIRATES! THE PENZANCE MUSICAL; SUNSET BOULEVARD; MOULIN ROUGE!; BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB and REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES: THE MUSICAL.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 26, 2025
New York Theatre Workshop has revealed the full cast for the world premiere of the new musical Saturday Church. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets here!
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 3, 2025
New York Theatre Workshop just presented a reading of SATURDAY CHURCH, which will be included in its upcoming season. In addition to previously announced Bryson Battle, J. Harrison Ghee, Joaquina Kalukango and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, the reading featured Kristolyn Lloyd, B Noel Thomas, Caleb Russell Quezon, Jackson Kanawha Perry, J Cameron Barnett, Jimin Moon, Primo Segar, Damani Van Rensalier, Venus Deleon, and Michael George.
by A.A. Cristi - May 30, 2025
Let’s take a look back at some of the most unforgettable looks that turned the Tony Awards into a true fashion spectacle. Check out photos of all of our favorite Tony Awards fashions of the 2020s!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 16, 2025
Next week, 54 BELOW will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Joaquina Kalukango and more! See the full lineup here!
by Michael Major - May 7, 2025
Joaquina Kalukango teamed up with acclaimed music director Michael Orland for their 54 Below debut in An Evening with Joaquina Kalukango. Known for her unforgettable roles in Paradise Square, The Color Purple, and Slave Play, see videos!
by Stephi Wild - May 7, 2025
New York Theatre Workshop has announced its 2025/26 Season featuring three world premiere productions and a fourth offering for Spring 2026 that has yet to be announced.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 25, 2025
Next month, 54 BELOW will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. The lineup includes Tom Kitt featuring Ariana DeBose, plus more!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Joaquina Kalukango has appeared on Broadway in 5 shows.
Joaquina Kalukango has not appeared in the West End.
Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Paradise Square, Distinguished Performance Awards (Drama League Awards) for Paradise Square, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Paradise Square, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Paradise Square, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Slave Play, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Slave Play, Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play (Helen Hayes Awards) for The Mountaintop, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Hurt Village and Outstanding Debut Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Hurt Village.
Joaquina Kalukango has won several prestigious awards, including the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for Paradise Square. She received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for Slave Play. Additionally, she earned the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play for The Mountaintop, and the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance for Hurt Village.
Videos